Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-02-12
i'm. It was the same ghost.

inquire.
eyes," / answered, 81 remember
you in the form in which you APP
peared to me some time ago. AL
though your aspect is entirely chang
ed, 1 feel you to'be the same ghost
that have met BEFORE"
"You are right" said the specter.
81 am glad to see you looking so
well, and apparently happy. But
John Rinckman, l understand, is in
a very low state of health"
eyes," l said, she is very old and
ill. But hope" 1 continued, as a
cloud of anxiety began to rise with
in me, "that his expected decease has
no connection with any prospects or
plans of your own"
"No," said the ghost. 81 am per-
fectly satisfied with my present posi-
ton. am off duty during the day,
and the difference in time between
this country and Russia gives me OPP
portunities of being here in your early
evening, and of visiting scenes and
localities which are very familiar and
agreeable to me-"
(Which fact, perhaps, you had
counted upon when you put this uni
form on" / remarked.
The ghost smiled.
81 must admit, however," he said,
"that am seeking this position for a
friend of mine, and | have reason to
believe that he will obtain it."
"Good heavens" exclaimed. "Is
it possible that this house is to be
haunted by ghost as soon as the old
gentleman expires? Why should
this family be tormented in such a
way? Everybody who dies does not
have a ghost walking about his
house."
"Oh, no." said the specter. "There
are thousands ofpositions of the kind
which are never applied for; but the
ghostship here is very desirable
one, and there are many applicants
for it. l think you will like my
friend'if he gets it,"
"Like him !" Igroaned.
The idea was horrible to me.
The ghost evidently perceived how
deeply l was affected by what he had
said, for there was compassionate
expression on his countenance. AS 1
looked at him an idea struck me. If
l were to have any ghost at all about
the house, / would prefer this one.
Could there be such things as duplex
ghostships? Since it was day here
when it was night in Russia, why
could not this specter serve in both
places 2 1t was common enough for
person to fill two situations. The
notion seemed feasible to me, and
preached it.
"Thank you," said the ghost. "But
the matter cannot be arranged in that
way. Night and day are not suitably
divided between here and Russia
and, besides, it is necessary for the
incumbent of this place to be on duty
at all hours. You remember that
came to you by day as well as by
night?"
Oh, yes; l remembered that. II
was additionally unfortunate that
the ghostship here should not be one
of the limited kind.
"Why is it," asked, "that a mans
own spirit does not attend to these
matters? l always thought that was
the way the thing was managed"
The ghost shook his head.
Consider for a moment" he re
piled, "what chance a mans owl
spirit, without experience and with
out influence, would have in a crowC
of importunate applicants, versed il
all the arts, and backed by the influ
ence necessary in such contest. o
course there are cases in which a per
son becomes his own ghost, but thi
is because the position is undesirable
and there is no competition"
"And this newcomer" l exclaim
ed, in much trouble, twill he TAX
the form of Mr.. Hinckman? If m,
wife should see such an apparition i
would kill her."
"The ghost who will haunt thi
place." said my companion, twill no
appear in the form of John Hinck
man. am glad that is so, if it viii
please you; for you are the only mai
with whom 1 have ever held sucl
unrestrained and pleasant intercourse
Goodbye" 4s.
And with these words no figure o
a Russian officer stood before me.